Tunnel construction



Oct. 25,I 1932. J, C. MEEM 1,884,799

TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l n l; mvENToR Oct. 25, 1932. J. c. MEEM 1,884,799v

TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Patented Oct. 25, 1932 JAMES C. MEEM, 0T BROOKLYN, NEW"YORK TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION i Application 1ed` July 21, 1930. Serial N0. 469,386.

My invention relates to lsub aqueous tunnels and` hasfo-r its general object to provide a new and improved construction of tunnels and tunnel sections as well as a new and improved method of building or laying a tunnel comprisedA of such sections.

My present invention has fonone of its objects the provision of. a` new and improved construction of cross vclosure adaptedfor use both as a bulkhead and as a diaphragm and also the reduction in the number of such closuresrequired in construction andE laying the tunnel sections.,` as well as the elimination of overlap and consequent waste in the tunnel sections themselves` The buoyant shafts and the `under-lying bulkheaded spaces which are characteristic features :ofsub aqueous tunnel constructions of the general type for which.A my invention is panticularly adapted, `may be subjected to excessive stresses and as heretofore constructed `have been made very heavy as of a steel and concrete construction or the like, no-means having` beenprovided in such constructions of bracing the bulkheads, so 'that there has been no alternative toa heavy con struction. Such a construction is not only expensive, but the removalof the bulkheads later has involved considerable additional exnenseas well as delay or loss of time required for such removal before thetunnel can be used.

By my present invention, bulkheads or diaphragme as well as the' buoyant shaftsare made of comparatively'light material` such as standard channels,` plates, angles andthe like and adequzltelybraced withlight sections-or members. The outer faces of the diaphragme or end closures of the-tunnel sections are preferably made of vertical channels with their flanges intu-rned andhaving interposed between them plates of substantiallyiv the same length which extend `iinwarde and i support` vertical angle members forming inl effect plate-girders `whose webs extend `inward-beyond the angles. Suitably spaced inward within the tunnel section from i the diaphragm is a i similarly constructed bulkhead havingwebs extending outwardtowards the diaphragm webs. These webs procross closures,

vide supports for horiZontal,-diagonal angles constituting a bracing between-the diaphragm and bulkhead, stiftening members or I-beams horizontally disposed, being' arranged between the cross bracing elements. rlhe construction provides, in effect, cross closures each composed of a series or a set of vertical girders, pairs of such cross closures being interconnected or braced by cross braces and struts as the necessities of a particular case may require.

A similar construction may be used to brace the buoyant shafts.

An important feature of my present improvements is the employment of the outer closure or diaphragm at the end of the tunnel section as an end closure for the chamber underlying the associate buoyant shaft, the opposite closure of said chamber being provided by a bulkhead constructed similarly to the diaphragm. In other words, the diaphragm performs a dual function serving not only as a diaphragm or end closure for the face of the tunnel section, but also as a wall of the buoyant shaft chamber. This results in the reduction of the number of cross closures required and an attendant reduction in expense as well as in a lightening of the construction as a whole.

Where the tunnel section is comparatively wide and fiat it may be provided at or near each end with a pair of buoyant shafts braced together in tandem fashion and having web plates of the general nature heretofore described, which are out vardly faced between the shafts and provide supports for suitably bracing and connectingthem.

Referring generally to the constructionof the tunnel structure proper as distinguished from the cross closures,diaphragme or bulkheads, the sectionsmay e composed of a frame work of steel encased inconcrete with anouter shell of steel which preferably consists of flanged plates which are suitably secured together, and the ends of eaehsection are then closed by diaphragms braced to internal bullrheads as has been generally described, the con struction being erected on land on ways `of suitable construction. Shaft seats are provided at the ends of each section for one or more shafts, the seats being con# nected to the underlying chamber or bulkheaded space by closable openings.

Each section is erected as far aspossible on ways, and is then launched and while f `floating is completed as may be required to make a tunnel section having .lateral and longitudinal strength and stability. The best results are had where they weight of the completed section is vsuch thathitgvirtually floats awash. Valves, which may be controlled by divers or may be providedwith'.

long upwardly extending stems, provide controlled connection between the underlying shaft chamber and the outer water. Also preferably, a large pipe having valves or closable openings extendsfromthe chambered space upwardly into the shaft.

" After a section has been sunk to position in its bled or trench, which has been previously suitably dredged, the next adjoining section is floated out and buoyant shafts are attached to the shaft seats, these shafts `being unitary; or where required sections may be added to theirytops as the tunnel section vis gradually sunk. The valve Vor valvesY at each end are opened, and, as thewater flows in, the tunnel sinks to position on its bed or seat, after'which divers may pull the section into contact with the firstsec'tiomthe abut- 'tingdiaphragms of the contiguous ends being suitably joined as by bolts through the d as a few sections are in place, the sections may be progressively entered by burning out man-holes through the abutting diaphragms so that the inside peripheral portions of these diaphragms may be conveniently punched and riveted together, after which'th-e remain ing portions of the diaphragme inside the riveted connections may be burned or cut out. 'The preferred construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be de i scribed in detail in connection therewith. It

may here be noted that while thedrawings s show a tunnel of the flat or box type, sub* stantially the same construction and method may be applied to a tunnelof any other shape,

' as a round or elliptical one.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tunnel section 4with buoyant shafts at its ends braced or connected by cross ties;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical central i sectional view taken centrally and longitudinally ofthe tunnel section and showing an end portion thereof'with the associated buoyf. ant shaft; i Y

Fig. 3 isa front elevation or face view of one of the diaphragnis or cross closures;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the section line 4 4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, transverse, vertical, sectional View taken on the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View illustrating two tunnel sections 'connected together.`l

y es will ,be understood most clearly from Figs. 1 and 2, each tunnel section, indicated Ygenerally byfthe numeral 10, comprises an exterior shell or skin which is preferably composed of a'series or set of longitudinally arranged plates 1v1 formed with flanges 12. Thev plates 11 composing the bottom of the tunnel 4section are disposed with their flanges 12 uptuiiied so that the flat bases of the plates lie iii substantial contact with the ground on which the section is erected. rlhe flanges l12 of the bottom are suitably connected as by rivets and then the steel shell of the walls is built up by laying the side plates one on the other vand suitably riveting their outturned flanges and connecting them to the steel frame work by suitable means (not shown). The frame work is preferably of steel, being composed of bottom and ytop I-beams '14 suitably spaced and bearing on and attached to vertical I-beams at the walls, and if required intermediate thereto.

The bottom beams bear on base plates and may be attached to the bottom shell by suitable means (not shown). As soon as the bottom and side walls are practically conipleted, the ends are enclosed as later described in'greater detail, and the section is then launched. The concrete lining is then placed or completed, suitable forms being provided therefore. The roof plates are also placed with flanges upturned, preferably while the tunnel is floating and with some of the concrete in place. Longitudinally connected strengthening members are employed of suitable construction, such members however, having been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clear-ness.v

The cross closures or diaphragms indicated as a whole by the numeral 16 and closing the f end of the body portion of the tunnel section are made up as follows: Each diaphragm comprises as best shown in Figs. 2 5 a series or set of vertically disposed channels or e flanged members 17 having their flanges 17a inturned so as to present a 'smooth outer flat face 176. Separating the channel members are plates 18 whose outer edges are flush withI the face of the diaphragm, said plates extending inward beyond the flanges 17a of the channel members. The channel members and plates are suitably secured together as vby riveting. rlhe inwardly extending portions of the plates 18 provide supports for verticallyy izo arranged members shown as angle bars 19 which are riveted to the plates in spaced relation, constituting parallel stiifening elements, and in turn provide supports for transversely disposed I-beams 20, the plates 18 being suitably cut out as indicated at 21 to afford passageways for certain of the I-beams.

As has been stated, the diaphragm thus composed in effect of a set of plate members, not only provides an end closure for the tunnel section but also serves as an end wall or closure for a chamber indicated by the nu- 1neral`22 which underlies one of the buoyant shafts of the tunnel section hereinafter described in detail.

It will be seen that the diaphragm in effect constitutes a girder element or plate girder of which the channels provide the flange at the outer side and the stiffening members the flange at the inner side, the web being constituted by the web plates, the inturned channel flanges providing the web angles of the girder element.

'lhe opposite end wall of the chamber 22 is provided by a cross closure or bulkhead indicated generally by the numeral 23 and constructed similarly to the diaphragm 16, said bulkhead comprising vertically disposed channels 24 with webs or plates 25 interposed between their iianges 24a, supporting vertically arranged angle bars 26 which in turn provide supports for horizontally disposed cross elements or Lbeams 27. As is most clearly shown in Fig. 2 the bulkhead 23 has its component parts oppositely disposed from those of the diaphragm 16, the channels 24 being at theinner face of the bulkhead and the web plates 25 extending outward towards the oppositely extended web plates 18 of the diaphragm.

The diaphragm and bulkhead are crossbraced or inter-connected as by horizontal cross bars 28 extending from the I-beams 20 to the I-beams 27 and suitably connected thereto as by angle plates 29. Between the angle bars cross bracing members 30 are arranged, they being supported by the inwardly extending portions of the web plates 18 and 25 to which they are secured as by rivets.

The diaphragm and the bulkhead may be suitably secured to the tunnel skin or shell and the I-beams 14 as by angles 31.

At the top of the chamber 22 the tunnel skin is cut away to provide a shaft opening or inlet, indicated at 32, one or more cross stiffening members 33 being introduced below said shaft opening and connected to the as sociate I-beams 14.

Disposed above and in alignment with tlie i opening 32 is a shaft seat 34 which is suitably secured in place and supports a buoyant shaft indicated generally by the numeral 35. The shaft 35 may be of any suitable cross sectional shape and is preferably constructed similarly to the diaphragms and bulkheads comprising channels 36 and interposed web plates 37 suitably securing together the inwardly projecting portions of the web plates being connected by cross bracing elements 39 and 40.

The buoyant shaft may be, if necessary, composed of al number of sections which are applied one on top of another and suitably connected as has been heretofore explained. The inner web plates 37 have outwardly extending projections 37a (Mig. 2) which provide suppo-rts for cross ties or braces 41 connecting the shafts 35 at the opposite ends of the tunnel section (Fig. 1). lt will be understood that the. cross closures, diaphragme or bulkheads as well as the buoyant shafts are duplicated at opposite ends of the tunnel section.

The valves and pipes heretofore described and the purposes of which have been eX- plained may be of any suitable construction and haveV been omitted from the drawings to avoid complications in the showing.

As has been stated, the weight of the parts is preferably such that the completed tunnel section floats awash and the sections of the buoyant shafts are mounted in place asv the tunnel section is gradually sunk to position on its bed or seat as water is introduced. After one section has been sunk and properlyseated in its bed or trench, the next tunnel section is brought out and sunk to its seat. Divers then pull the sections into proper relation with the diaphragms in close contact as shown in Fig. 6, the outwardly projecting portions 16a of the diaphragms being connected by cross bolts or rivets 42 as shown.

The shafts may then be unbolted and hauled up, the shaft seats being filled in with concrete with overlying covers 43, bagged concrete being placed over the diaphragm connections externally, after which the met-hed is proceeded with as has been described.

I claim:

1. A submersible tunnel section comprising a body portion and end closures having substantially flat outer faces constituted by metal channels, plates interposed between the channel flanges with their outer edges substantially flush with the flat outer faces of the channels, said plates extending inward, and parallel stiifening elements secured at spaced intervals to the inwardly extending portions of said plates, cross closures of substantially like construction to the end closures but oppositely arranged and spaced inward therefrom, and bracing devices connecting the end closures with the associate inwardly spaced cross closures, said bracing devices comprising angularly arranged bracing bars connected at their end portions to portions of said plates projecting beyond the spaced parallel stiffening elements and further comprising parallel cross bracing elements, said parallel cross bracing elements being constituted by Ibea1ns secured to said spaced stiffening members and connected ISL -tion comprising channels,`web plates intercross bars which alternatey with the aforesaid angularly arranged bracing bars.

2. Tunnel sections connectible at their abutting-'ends andyeach comprising a body por- Vabutting ends and eachy comprising a body portion, a buoyant shaft and a chamber within the body portion and underlying and connected to said buoyant shaft, the ends walls ot said chambereach being composed of a metal frame work constituted by suitably connected parts including opposite elements having a substantially continuous smooth outer tace, said walls being built up and ccmpleted during the building ot'the tunnel section and connected with each other by suitable bracing elements, the outer wall of said chamber being substantially flush with the end of the tunnel section and serving as a diaphragm which abuts against and is co-nnectible with the diaphragm of the adjacent tunnel section. n

4:. A closure `for a submersible tunnel secposed between the channels and secured to the flanges thereof, and stiening members spaced from the channels and secured to said web plates, the whole constituting a girder element of which the channels provide the flange at one side and the stitfening members the flange at the other side, the channelv flanges providing the web angles of the girder element.'

5. A closure for a submersible tunnel section comprising vertical channels, vertical web plates interposed between the channels andl secured to the flanges thereof, said flangesbeing inturned and the outer ends of the web plates being flush with the out-er vertical faces of the channels so as to constitute therewith a iiat smooth outer tace for the closure, and vertical stiiening members secured to they inwardly extending kportions of the web plates, the whole constituting a girder element of which the channels provide the flange at the outer side and the stiiinening l members a flange at the inner side, the channel flanges providing the web angles of the girde'r element.

- 6. Submersible tunnel sections each provided with diaphragms at their ends, said diaphragms each comprising vertical'channels whose ends and outer members extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section toprovide an 'area v:tor de- Y vices to'connect two Vcontiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardly extending flanges of said channels and members attached to the inner portions of the plates to stiften the diayphragm.

7. Submersible tunnel sections each providedwith diaphragms at their ends, said diaphragms each comprising vertical channels which extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section to provide an area for devices to connect two contiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plat-es interposedY between and secured to the inwardly extending flanges ot said channels and vertical members attach-ed to the inner portions oi saidvplates to form a series of stiffening elements.

, 8. Submersible tunnel. sections each provided with diaphragms at their ends, said diaphragms each comprising vertical channels whose ends and'outer members extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section to provide an area for devices to connect two contiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardly extending flanges of said channels and vertical members attached to the inner portions oli said plates to form a series of stiffening elements, bulkheads associated with each diaphragm and spaced inward therefrom in the tunnel section and an internal bracing connecting the .bullrheads with the associated diaphragm. Y

9. Submersible tunnel sections each provided with diaphragms at their ends, said diaphragms each comprising vertical channels which extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section to provide an area 'for devices to connect two contiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardlyv extending flanges ot said channels and members attached to the inner portions of the plate to stiftenV the diaphragm, each tunnel section being provided with internal bull;- heads spaced inward from the associated diaphragm and having substantially the same construction as the diaphragm but with constituent parts oppositely disposed.

l0. Submersible tunnel sections each provided with diaphragms at their ends, said diaphragms each comprising vertical chan nels which extend outward beyond the cuter periphery of the tunnel section to provide bolting area, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardly extending` lianges of said channels, and members attached to the. inner portions of the plates to stiften the diaphragm, each tunnel section being provided with internal bulkheads spaced inward from the associated diaphragm and having substantially the same construction as the diaphragm but with constituent parts oppositely disposed, and cross-bracing between each outer diaphragm and its associate internal bulkhead.

l l1. Submersible tunnel sections each provided with diaphragme at their ends, said diaphragme each comprising vertical chalinels whose ends and outer members extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section to provide an area for devices to connect two contiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardly extending flanges to said channels and members attached to the inner portions of the plate to stiften the diaphragm, each tunnel section being provided with internal bulkheads spaced inwardly from the associated diaphragm and having substantially the same construction as the diaphragm but with constituent parts oppositely disposed, and cross-bracing between each outer diaphragm and its associate internal bulkhead, and shaft seats at the tops of the tunnel sections each shaft seat providing an opening to the space enclosed between the diaphragm and its associated internal bulkhead.

12. Submersible tunnel sections each provided with diaphragme at their ends, said diaphragme each comprising vertical channels whose ends and outer members extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section to provide an area for devices to connect two contiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardly extending flanges of said channel and members attached to the inner portions of the plate to stiffen the diaphragm, each tunnel section being provided with internal bulkheads spaced inwardly from the associated diaphragm and having substantially the same construction as the diaphragm but with constituent parts oppositely disposed, and cross-bracing between each outer diaphragm and its associate internal bulkhead, and shaft seats at the tops of the tunnel sections each shaft seat providing an opening to a space enclosed between a diaphragm and its associated internal bulkhead, and shafts detachably secured to said shaft seats for flooding the underlying space and buoying the tunnel sections.

13. Submersible tunnel sections each provided with diaphragms at their ends, said diaphragme each comprising vertical channels whose ends and outer members extend outward beyond the outer periphery of the tunnel section to provide an area for devices to connect two contiguous tunnel sections, vertical web plates interposed between and secured to the inwardly extending flanges to said channels and members attached to the .inner portions of the plate to stien the diaphragm, each tunnel section being provided with internal bulklieads spaced inwardly from the associated diaphragm and having substantially the same construction as the diaphragm but with constituent parts oppositely disposed, and cross-bracing' between each outer diaphragm and its associated and bulkhead.

JAMES C. MEEM. 

